Reel for rewinding measured lengths of textile fabrics.



J. C. GEBHART. REEL FOR REWINDING MEASURED LENGTHS 0F TEXTiLE FABRICS.-

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17' I916- Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

r 7 i a I v I 0 in v J OHN QGEBI-IART, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK LOW, OF ST. LOUIS,

' MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2'7, 1917.

Application filed March 17, 1916. Serial No. 84,902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. GEBHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Reels for Rewinding Measured Lengths of Textile Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved reel for rewinding measured lengths oftextile fabric. The reel is specially designed for use as an element of the apparatus shown in my copending application Serial N 0. 84,901,

for apparatus for measuring textile fabrics and computing the price thereof, in which use it is employed to draw the cloth through the length measuring and price computing machine. The reel is specially formed for detachable association with rotatable bearers and is made of collapsible construction in order that, upon the completion of the rewinding operation, the reel, and therewith the length of fabric wound thereon, may be disconnected and removed from the apparatus and the reel may be thereafter collapsed and removed from the bolt of fabric.

The objects of the invention are to provide a reel of the character referred to which shall be even and true in its rotation, which shall effect an even and compact winding of the fabric in bolt form, which may be manipulated with ease and facilityto effect its extension or collapse, and which shall be efliciently supported by its bearers and yet may be quickly and readily removed from or fitted to said bearers.

The invention consists in certain new features of structure, combination and relation involving the reel and the reel bearers and their appurtenances, which novel features, together with the above and other objects and advantages, will appear as the description proceeds. I

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein j j Figure 1 is an elevation ofthe reel as in use, one of the bearers being shown partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the reel in collapsed relation;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the reel;

Fig. 4. is a detail cross-sectional view on the line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of one of the side bars of the reel and the relation of this side bar to the supporting pin of the bearer;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showlng the end formation of the channeled cross-bar of the reel;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 3, showing details of the adjustable standard which supports the reel at one side thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the side bars of the reel looking at the inner face thereof and showing it in relation to the adjacent reel bearer.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several vlews.

The reel, when extended, has the form of a rectangular frame and accordingly consists of a pair ofside bars 1 and 2'and a pair of cross-bars 3 and 4 which extendbetween and connect the adjacent ends of the side bars. The side bars 1 and 2 are of similar construction and are specially formed to provide for the collapse of the reel and to coact with the reel bearers to be hereafter described. Each side bar consists of an intermediate member 5 and two outer members 6 and 7, the member 6 connecting the member 5 and the adjacent end of the bar 3 and the'member 7 similarly connecting the member 5 and the adjacent end of the bar 4. Said members 6 and 7 are joined to the parts which they connect by pivots 8. The member 5 provides a mutual pivotal connection for the members 6 and 7 and is preferably of U shaped cross section. Its sides 5 overlie the inner ends of the members 6 and 7 while its base 5 provides an abutment against which the members 6 and 7 engage when the reel is extended. The member 5 is thus a means for holding the members 6 and 7 in alining relation and against inward collapse whereby the side bars will be perfectly straight throughout their extent and the reel will be entirely rigid.

Then in use, the reel is supported by rotatable bearers 9 which co-act with the respective side bars 1 and 2. Each bearer comprises a shaft 10 having at its inner end a conical projection 11 which engages 1n a conical recess or opening 12 formed centrally of the base 5 of the member 5 and arms 13 projecting radially in opposite d1- rections from the shaft and terminating in clips 14 which have a U-shapedcrosssection and fit over the respective side bar members 6 and 7. The projections 11 sup- 5 port the reel and the clips 14 brace the members 6 and 7 of the side bars laterally, thus insuring of the lateral rigidity of the reel, and, in the instance of that bearer to which rotating power is applied, transmit rotation m to the reel.

As a matter of convenience, the arms 13 are made integral with a collar 15 which is rigidly secured in any suitable manner on the shaft 10.

The reel preferably includes a gripper for the fabric which is retracted when the reel is collapsed and which is projected when the reel is extended. In the preferred construction disclosed, the bar 4 is of channel form, being provided with lateral flanges 16 which terminate short of the ends of said bar and adjacent the members 7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The gripper consists of a bar 17 and pins 18 arranged at regular intervals along the bar 17. The bar 17 is of substantially less width than the bar 4 and is set in the channels provided by the flanges 16. v The pins 18 are rigidly secured in openings in the bar 17 and project beyond said bar at each side thereof. To accommodate the projecting portions of the pins 18, the flanges 16 are provided with openings 16 (Fig. 6). The outer ends of the pins 18 are suitably pointed to engage the margin of the strip of fabric to be re-wound. The gripper is projected by lugs 19 formed upon the members 7 of the side bars 1 and 2, these lugs projecting inwardly in the plane of the reel and engaging the inwardly projecting portions of the pins 18 to effect the projection of the gripper in connection with the extension of the reel. When the reel is collapsed, the lugs 19 disengage the pins 18 and permit the inward or retractile movement of the gripper, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In the embodiment disclosed, the bearers 9 are supported by upright standards 20 and 21 which have at their upper ends bearings 22 for the shafts 10. Power is applied to one of the shafts 10 to effect the rotation of the reel either manually, as by means of a crank 23, or by connections from a motor, (not shown). It is, of course, necessary that the bearings 22 should be in exact alinement,

and for this purpose, it is preferred to mount the standards 20 and 21 on a common supporting base 24. As shown, the standard 20 is integral with this base.

One of the standards, 6. g. the standard 21,.is adjustable lengthwise of the base 24 in order that it may be positioned nearer to or 'farther from the other standard in adapting the spacing of the bearers to accord with differences in the lengths of the different as reels-which may befltted between the bearers. According to the present invention, those features which .enable the adjustment of the standard are specially constructed to provide also for the disengagement of the bearer carried by the adjustable standard 7(' from the reel without affecting the adjustment of the standard.

The base 24 is provided with a longitudinally disposed projection 25 having a T- shaped cross-section and provided on its upper face with inwardly pointing rack teeth 26. The standard 21 terminates in a shoe 27 whose under face is channeled. The shoe 27 rests squarely on the base 24. Its channel is shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the projection 25. Said shoe accordingly is provided with inwardly proj ecting ribs 28 which engage under the overhanging flanges 30 of the projection 25. The shoe 27 is provided at its outer end and within its channel with a depending tooth 29 of less depth than the teeth 26 with which it cooperates. The upper faces of the flanges 28 are arranged on an inward and upward incline, as shown in Fig. 7, and are suitably 9o spaced throughout their extent from the over-hanging flanges 30 of the projection 25. The width of the channel of the shoe 27 corresponds exactly to the width of the projection 25, from which it follows that the standard 21 will be held rigidly against any side play and its bearing 22 will be exactly alined with the bearing 22 of the standard 20. In the use of the reel, the standard 21 is so positioned relatively to the standard 20 that the arms 13 of the bearers will squarely abut the outer faces of the side members 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. In this relation, the standard 21 is held absolutely rigid by the engagement of its teeth 29 against one of the teeth 26; and the bearer arms 13 brace the reel against collapse and positively maintain the side bars 1 and 2 in extended relation. When the re-winding operation has been completed, the standard 21 is tilted or canted in a longitudinal plane having its fulcrum on that tooth 26 which is engaged by the tooth 29. The spacing of the flanges 28 at their inner ends from the flanges 30 is suflicient to permit of such tilting movement of the standard as will disengage the projection 11 of its bearer from the recess 12 of the side bar 1. While the standard 21 is held in the position to which it has been tilted, the reel is removed from between the bearer and thereafter is collapsed by pulling the central portions of its side bars, 11. e., in the embodiment disclosed by pulling the members 5 outward, whereby the members 6 and 7 have a toggle-wise inward movement by which they bring the bars 3 and 4 into relatively close association. The reel is shown in partially collapsed relation in Fig. 2, and in such relation, may be readily re moved lengthwise from the bolt of fabric. 130

In order to position the standard 21 near to the standard 20, the standard 21 is pushed inward, its tooth 29 riding over the teeth 26. In order to position the standard 21 farther from the standard 20, it is first tilted inward to bring its tooth 29 above the teeth 26 and it is then slid outward until it reaches the position desired, at which time, it is tilted back into its normal position whereby its tooth 29 will engage the adjacent tooth 26.

I claim- 1. A reel of the class described, comprising side bars and cross-bars, the side bars consisting of members pivotally connected to one another and to the cross-bars and being collapsible by outward movements of their central portions and extensible by inward movements thereof and means provided as a part of each side bar, for bracing the members, when extended, against inward collapse, in combination with rotatable bearers detachably associated With the reel and formed to engage the side bars whereby to connect the reel for rotation therewith and also formed to engage said means whereby to support the reel.

2. A reel of the class described, comprising side bars and cross-bars, each side bar consisting of an intermediate member and outer members pivoted to the intermediate member and also pivoted to the cross-bars, the intermediate members having bases which abut the outer faces of the outer members in theextended relation of the side bars and thereby brace the side bars against inward collapse and which have their outer faces recessed in combination with rotatable bearers having projections to engage in the recesses of the bases of the intermediate members and having end clips to fit over the side bars.

3. A reel of the class described comprising side bars composed of pivotally connected members, cross-bars extending between and pivoted to the side bars, a gripper carried by one of the cross-bars and mounted for projection and retraction and means Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

merely a for projecting the gripper in connection with the extension ofthe side bars.

4. A reel of the class described comprising side bars composed of pivotally connected members, cross-bars extending between and pivoted to the side bars, a gripper carried by one of the cross-bars and mounted for projection and retraction, the gripper having projections, and lugs provided 011 the side bars to engage said projections and project the gripper in connection with the extension of the side bars.

5. A reel of the class described comprising side bars composed of pivotally connected members, cross-bars extending be tween and pivoted to the side bars, one of the cross-bars being of channeled form and having longitudinal parallel flanges at one side thereof, said flanges being provided with openings, a gripper combined with said channeled cross-bar and consisting of a bar of substantially less width than said channel and fitted therein and pins projecting at opposite sides of said gripper bar through the openings in said flanges, and lugs provided on the side bars to engage the adjacent projections of the gripper bar and project the gripper in connection with the extension of the side bars.

6. In combination, a rotatable reel bearer, a supporting standard therefor, a base having a T-shaped longitudinal projection and provided on its upper face with transverse rack teeth and a shoe formed with the standard and having a channel to conformably fit over said projection and a tooth rigidly depending from the upper face of the channel to engage said rack teeth, the shoe having lateral flanges projecting under the overhanging flanges of the projection and spaced therefrom throughout their extent.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. GEBHART. Witnesses:

CHAs. S. HYER, JOHN S. Pownns.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). G. 

